UCLA professor Anthony Seeger came to Fresno State to give a lecture as a part of the Center for Creativity and the Arts’ “Native Communities: Tradition and Innovation” theme on March 23.
Seeger is an anthropologist, musician, record producer and ethnomusicologist, all of which were topics discussed during this lecture to students and faculty members.
Ethnomusicology is the study of music in a cultural context. It focuses on what role music plays in cultures around the world and the music that is specific to those cultures. Popular ethnomusicologists include Béla Bartók and Zoltán Kodály, both Hungarians who studied the folk music of cultures — much like Seeger.
During his lecture, Seeger focused on his time working with and studying the music of the Kïsêdjê people from Brazil. His work with the Kïsêdjê, previously called Suyá, culminated in a book, “Why Suyá Sing: A Musical Anthropology of an Amazonian People.”
Seeger discussed tradition and change; how tradition may be transitional; how change may be old; and why “people look to the past during moments of change.”
For many years, Seeger lived with the Kïsêdjê, learning their language, hunting with them and learning why their music sounds the way it does and the stories and history behind the songs.
The lecture ended in Seeger answering questions from audience members regarding his experiences abroad and also as a musician and record producer.
This was a topic that was new to many of the students at the lecture who enjoyed the unusual topic.
“It’s new to me and it’s something that you don’t really do,” said Jason Xiong, a third-year industrial technology major. Xiong also said that seeing other people travel and learn about different cultures interested and inspired him to want to do something like this in the future.
Others were inspired by the challenge of being with a completely new group of people, and with little understanding of their culture.
“You want to be able to get yourself out there and learn things you never knew before,” Richee Xavonglianekham said, a third-year business major. “As a business major, I have to take big risks.”
